Automobile theft detector



Feb. 6, 1940. W T, MEA'D 2,189,149

AUTOMOBILE THEFT DETECTOR Filed Sept. 14, 1938 Fzy j. 5

25 By Z fd A'TTORNEYS Patented Feb. c, 1940 u 2,189,149 y e.

UNITED STATES 1 PATET OFFICE 1- 2,189,149 1 1 AU'roMoBILE THEFTDETECTR 1 l WalterThomas Mead, Los Angeles, Calif. Application september 14, 193s, serial No. 229,910

` Claims `(01.40422) This invention relates to an automobile theft of parts shown inthe right hand portion-of Fig. 3. detector and to a means for sealingthe same so 1 This view illustrates the means for lockingthe that it cannot be removed, without detection, in 1 device in place on the vehicle and thereafter sealan unauthorized manner froma motor vehicle. ingthe locking means. 1 `r 1 1 5 An object of the invention is to provide for Fig. 81 is a top plan view of the locking bolt 5 sealing an automobile license plate inits attached shown in Fig. '7. :1 y 1 position on thevehicle so that it cannot be r'e-" l Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional detail oit` one moved by unauthorized persons without detecofthe sealing devices shown in the lower corner tion. 1 portions of Fig. 1. e 1 l The invention provides a means which will en-` Fig. 10 is a fragmental sectional detail takenl able the general public to detect immediately the Online IIl--Ill` of Fig. 6. 1 1

fact that the automobile is being driven by a Referring in detail to the drawing,the casing person who is not authorized to do so. I0 is furnished with a window opening II which 1More speciiically stated, one object ofthe inis covered by ,a transparentplate I2, preferably vention is to provdea casing forcontaining the glass. Within saidcasing the license; plate I3 1":

State license plate, said casing having a window is supported a little below said window opening through which the license number on said plate in a position to be concealed, at times, by the is normally exposed to view; in combination with ijointedshutter I4 of the roll top desk type, said a shutter operable by a key possessed by the own- `shutterbeing furnished with a track I5 or` runer to be thereby moved from a position wherein way to guide and support each of its endI por- 20* it completely obstructs `the viewof said number tions, said end portions occupying. channels af-y through said window.1 This arrangement enables forded by said tracks. Each of said tracks `is rof the owner `of a car vequipped with the invention substantially the same shape as the other. The to move the shutter: across said window when mid-length portion Ilia of each of these tracks parking the car, thus concealing the rear (prefis of an arcuate shape and each track has; a 25 erably) license number plate and thereby servrsubstantially straight upper run I6 and a similar .i ing,- notice to all observers that, if the vcar is in straight lower run I'I, these track Aruns converging motion, it is being driven illegally. somewhat toward each other `as they approach Other objects, advantages and features of intheir ends. p Each of said end1 tracks is of1a chanvention will hereinafter appear. nel iron shape, the open side of the channel of ,30

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which each track being directly toward the track fat illustrates what is at present deemed to bea theopposite side of the casing. This construe` preferred embodiment of the invention', tion provides a runway for each end portion of Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device, part of the the jointed metallic shutter I4 and also guides y casing being broken away in order to show under- .the 1flexible connections` I9 whereby. said "shutter :35

lying structure more clearly. V vis moved Vto andffrom a position wherein it con- Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device, a part lcealsy the license plate I3. 1 1 v of the casing being broken away in this view also, l The 1 mounting means for said' license plate on line 2-'-2 of Fig. 11 to show underlying concomprises. `a'base plate 2l having along its lower struction. edgean upwardly directed rebent flange 22 iwhich :im

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. `forms a groove to receive the lower edgeof the Fig. 4 is' a `fragmental side elevation `wherein license plate, there being a like flange 23 along is` shown the rear portion of the self-propelled 1 thek upper edge of said base plate to receive the motor vehicle, illustrating the attachment of the opposite edge portion of said license` plate. By 1 device thereto. this means the license plate is supported -in an 45 Fig. 5 is a fragmental cross-section taken on .adjacent underlying position in relation to; the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, the scale being larger than `window II. 1 l 1 on the latter View. 1 Returningto the construction and'operationof Fig. 6 is .an enlarged reproduction, partly in the `jointed shutter I4, the shutter operating conce vertical mid-section and partly in side elevation, nectlons I9 and Isa at each end of the casing, :50

of parts shown in the right hand portion of Fig. are directed upwardly over and attached to the 2, illustrating the key operable means for movbroadly` gl'OOVed pulleys 25y and Cach 0f Said`0D-1 ing the shutter for the license plate to and from erating connections is, windable'around its pulley the position wherein it covers the license number. and is attached thereto in sockets like the` socket ,1 5K5 Fig. '7 is an enlarged, fragmental reproduction 2li shown 1in Fig.A 6,1in any desired `well known :55

2., manner. Said pulleys are secured to opposite ends of an operating shaft 26, said shaft being located somewhat nearer the widest end of the double track; Each end portion of said shaft is supported by a bearing plate 21, said bearing plates affording a means for supporting the lower run l1 of vthe tracks, reference being made to said track as viewed in Fig. 3. It is tobe understood lthat the construction of the device is symmetrical in relation to the midlength of the casing and that in Fig. l the parts that are disclosed in the right hand, sectioned part of the view are duplicated in the left hand portion thereof.

As a means for rotating said shaft for the purpose of turning the pulleys fastened theretor` and thereby moving the jointed shutter to and from its operative position, said shaft 'is provided with a diametrical kerf or slot 28 across one end portion, and an operating tongue 29 is provided to engage said slot and rotate said shaft. Said tongue 29 is swingably secured to the lend of a lock'b'arrel 3l which is rotated by a tumbler-controlled key v32. vSaid lock barrel has its bearing in a lock case 33 which is tted in `an aperture ,provided for it in the end wall of the casing, and is secured in this position by any suitable means'.

It hasbeen found vby experiment that 'the dou- `ble-acting flexible connections aiford a superior means for moving the jointed shutter along its tracks to and from the position wherein -it obstructs the view of the license number through the window opening of the casing. The broadly 'grooved pulley 25 can be rotated through two revolutions without the coils of the connections i9 and iSa overlying each other.

The jointed shutter I4 should have inscribed upon it an `inscription indicating that, if the oar is vbeing driven while the shutter is in its `operative or down position concealing the license v.plate number, the car vhas been stolen. In the drawing a double inscription -isshown Said inscrip- -tion reading If in motion, this is a stolen car.

Title casing Ill is furnished with basal end flanges -34 with a top flange 35 and Aa lower ange S5. To the rear :portion of the metalbody 31 of the car is welded -a mounting flange 3S which is shaped as an inverted rectangular U. Said 'ange'has 'a doubled'over portion 39. The upstandingpa'rt of Ythe-flange 38 is welded orother- 'wise =permanently secured to lthe car body. By thismeansa narrow space `is provided'under the -body portion of the flange which is adapted to freceive the aforesaid end flanges 340i the casing.

As afmeans `for lockingthecasing inplace with lits lend'flanges in position v'as `just indicated, a

screw threaded locking boltM is furnished, said bolt cooperating with a locking bar 42. Said bar 'basin vit a suitable recess `to receive the end of 'said bolt. kAs a means for affording a -screw threadedanchorage for said locking "bolt, the

`vmid-length portion of thelower part of the casing `-is furnished with a lug 43 having `a screw 'threaded bore therethrough. Said locking bolt- 4Il is'shownfurnished with a triangular head 44, in order 'that it may-onlybe operated by a tool l having a socketshaped to fit 'upon it. 'Said lugy 43 is shown in Fig. 7 as being integral with the casinglli. The locking bar42 will'beattached to `the automobile lwall v3l in any suitable. manner,

desirably 'by welding 42x.

VSaid lug d3 is iurnishedwith a cylindrical up-y `in 'the' upper yportion v`of said ybore. vSaid Vsealing disk rests upon an annular shoulder 41, and iits Within a groove 48 provided for it. Above said groove 48 the lug is furnished with an annular shoulder 49 which is somewhat greater in diameter than the shoulder 4l. As indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 'l the disk 46 is originally of a somewhat concavo-convex shape and when it is being put in place the concave face thereof is directed downwardly, the diameter of the disk at the somewhat soft metal of which the disk 415 is composed. f

If preferred, the State seal or other seal used may be impressed upon the disk 46 before it is acted upon by the punch as has been stated. A fdeeply impressed seal willnot be seriously defaced by the action of thesrnooth punch thereupon.

As an additional precaution against unauthorized persons removing the device from the vehicle, Ya pair-of seals 5i vare shown attached-to the :l:I

lower corner portions vof the' casing I li. Said pair of seals are used to seal in place additional attaching screws 52 and seals shown for this .purpose vmaybe rebent wire elements 53, a conventionallead sealing body 54 being used for each seal.

A reflector `6| is shown attached to the upper partfof the front of the casing Il! to direct the rays of an electric lamp downwardly lupon the -license number 62, or upon the linscription 63.` In Fig. l the shutter llt, parts of -wliich are broken away, is shown in the-down position, and a part of the license plate i3 Iis disclosed together with a vportion of the license number 62 carried rby said plate.

I claim: l. A device of the kind described comprising a casing having -a window opening through'one of v.its `wallsalicense number plate mounted within said casing in such va `.position that the license number upon said plate -is normally visible license plate number through -said opening, and

key 4operable means -to move said shutter along said tracks, saidopposite edge 'portions of said shutter traveling in the channels of said ltracks.

2. 'A'device of lthe kind described comprising a -casinghaving .a window opening through one of 'its walls, a license number plate mounted within -said-casingin such a-position that the license number upon said plate is normally visible through said opening, tracks arranged onopposite sides of said opening, a jointed shutter movable along said tracks to and' from a position wherein it obstructs visibility of said licenseiplate number-through said opening, said tracks-having upper and lowerruns which are joined'by 'arcuate portions, said .jointed shutter ybeing arranged to travel over said'arcuate portions, flexible connections-to operate saidjointed shutter, pulleys upon --which said connections arearranged-to wind 'and unwind, and key operable meansto rotate said 4. Thesubject matter of claim 2 and, saidkey pulleys and thereby move said shutter in opposite y operable means including a shaft having `a diadirections. metrical kerf in an end portion thereof andro- 3. The subject matter of claim 2 and, said key tatable means operable by'a key and having a operable means including a shaft to which said tongue engaging said kerf.

pulleys are xed, and rotary means operable by the key and connectible with an end portion of WALTER THOMAS f said shaft. 

